Political Quotes

“I thank my friend from Maryland. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of the dedicated public servants of our intelligence community. Their work to ensure national security is to be commended. However, I must oppose the Intelligence Authorization Act of 2012. Ten years after 9/11, the United States continues to use its intelligence and defense apparatus in ways that undermine the rule of law at home and abroad. {time} 0930 There are plenty of examples, in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. In a recent PBS Frontline feature, a top CIA official who was at the agency for over 34 years was quoted as saying, ``The Obama administration changed virtually nothing with respect to existing CIA programs and operations.'' Last month the Associated Press reported that the New York Police Department was using domestic surveillance methods, in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency, to spy on local communities in a way that significantly undermined civil liberties. The United States continues to use drones for targeted assassination under the color of international law. Earlier this year we rubberstamped three provisions of the Patriot Act that allowed the government to conduct surveillance and demand records from innocent Americans with impunity, even for activities associated with First and Fourth Amendment rights.…”